Apostolos Tomaras
The approval of the Republic of Cyprus’ application to participate in the EU’s SAFE regulation (Security Action for Europe) opens a new chapter in the National Guard’s armaments program, the largest since its establishment. The approval of the full €1.2 billion allocated to Cyprus is expected to cover a significant part of the long-planned modernization of the National Guard’s arsenal, a program that has been underway for nearly a decade and funded until now through national resources.
The €1.2 billion will help speed up plans in key areas of the Republic of Cyprus’ defense, drawing on the most advanced systems currently offered by the European defense industry. The acquisition of new weapons systems will further support the transformation of the National Guard into a modern and flexible force, adapted to an increasingly fluid geopolitical and security environment.
According to well-informed sources cited by K, the first tranche of the €1.2 billion is expected to be drawn in the second half of 2026. Under the existing roadmap, the amounts released at each stage will be determined by the Ministry of Finance in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, as the European funds are budgeted allocations. The same procedure will continue until the full amount approved for Cyprus under the SAFE regulation has been absorbed.
The list
The restrictions imposed by the SAFE framework on procurement choices for EU member states effectively indicate the direction Cyprus will take in acquiring defense systems. According to reliable information from K, the list submitted by Nicosia to Brussels and approved in full includes the backbone of the National Guard’s arsenal, systems that require replacement or renewal, and for which procurement planning had begun well before the SAFE regulation was adopted.
Information available to the newspaper confirms earlier reporting on the military equipment the National Guard aims to acquire through European funding. The General Staff of the National Guard and the Ministry of Defense included in the dossier everything from ammunition of all calibers to tanks, helicopters, and drones. The list does not include air defense systems, such as anti-aircraft or anti-missile platforms, as the recent addition of the Israeli Barak system, soon to be reinforced with the purchase of an additional unit, is believed to have covered existing needs.
Main battle tanks
At the top of Cyprus’ list is the purchase of new main battle tanks to replace, in the first phase, the initial batch of 27 Russian T-80U tanks and 14 T-80UK tanks delivered to the National Guard in 1996 and 1997, respectively. These 41 Russian tanks are set to be replaced to maintain high levels of operational readiness and combat capability for the armored units.
As K had previously reported, and is now confirmed, the National Guard is moving away from its earlier interest in Israel’s Merkava tank and turning toward the European defense industry. According to military sources, the available European options are limited to two: Germany’s Leopard, which has long been of interest, and France’s Leclerc, considered a third-generation main battle tank.
The final decision will depend on several factors: the number of tanks to be purchased, their cost, whether they are new or second-hand, and the broader framework of defense cooperation, an area in which France is seen as having an advantage.
Cyprus’ list also includes the purchase of five additional French H145M attack helicopters.
The Leclerc
The French Leclerc meets the specifications set by the National Guard’s General Staff. It is equipped with a 120mm gun and an automatic loader capable of firing up to 10–12 rounds per minute. Its crew consists of three personnel, compared with four in many other Western tanks, while its 1,500-horsepower engine allows it to reach speeds of up to 71–72 km/h on roads.
The Leclerc is produced in three versions: Series 1, 2 and XXI, as well as the Leclerc XLR, the latest upgraded version currently in service with the French army, and a tropicalized version. In addition to France, the tank is also operated by the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.
One drawback is that production of new Leclerc tanks has ceased, with only upgrades of existing units continuing. This is not considered a major disadvantage, as the National Guard is leaning toward second-hand purchases for cost reasons. According to open-source estimates, the purchase price per unit is around $17 million, with upgrades, if selected, adding approximately €1.7 million per tank.
Based on these figures, replacing the 41 Russian tanks from the first batch would cost about €697 million, plus upgrade expenses. The entire amount could be covered under the SAFE regulation without affecting other planned acquisitions.
The Leopard
Interest in Germany’s Leopard tank dates back well before the launch of the armored fleet modernization plan. At the time, the main obstacles were the U.S. arms embargo, which made Germany reluctant to sell Leopard tanks to Cyprus, and the high purchase cost.
Those conditions have since changed. The technical requirements can now be met, and the decisive factor will be whether the cost remains within SAFE’s financial limits. One advantage of the German option is that the Leopard is also used by the Greek army (Leopard 2HEL and Leopard 2A4), with part of the upgrade work carried out in Greece.
The Leopard is armed with a 120mm gun, has a 1,500-horsepower engine and has a top speed of 68 km/h. According to open-source pricing, the latest version, the Leopard 2A8, is considered prohibitively expensive. More affordable options include the Leopard 2A7+, priced at about €14 million per unit (€574 million for 41 tanks), and the older Leopard 2A4, available second-hand at around €11 million per unit (€539 million for 41 tanks). Both German options are cheaper than the French Leclerc.
Five more helicopters
Strengthening the National Guard’s air capabilities also ranks high on Cyprus’ SAFE list. Following the delivery of the first French H145M attack helicopters, the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff decided to activate the option included in the original contract for the purchase of five additional helicopters. The cost will be fully covered by SAFE funds. The first six helicopters cost the Republic of Cyprus €140 million.
The air component also includes expanding the drone fleet, which currently consists of Israeli systems and drones produced by a Ukrainian company based in Cyprus. Procurement options under consideration include suppliers in Greece, where UAV development has gained momentum, as well as the Czech Republic and Poland. The list also includes ammunition purchases across all calibers.
New purchase for the Barak air defense shield
Beyond SAFE-funded acquisitions, Cyprus will continue to allocate national resources for purchases from non-EU countries. One such case involves Israel, with military sources telling K that the acquisition of an additional system to strengthen the Israeli Barak air defense platform already in service with the National Guard is currently underway.
The same sources said Israel’s Merkava tank has not been fully ruled out. Its acquisition, however, is considered unlikely, first because Israel has not lifted export restrictions due to the ongoing war, and second because alternative tank options are available through SAFE without requiring national funds. Those resources could instead be directed toward defense systems not eligible under the SAFE regulation.
